SAN FERNANDO City, La Union (PIA) — The Department of Health-Center for Health Development Ilocos (DOH-CHD 1) warns the public regarding the equal risks posed by firsthand, secondhand, and thirdhand cigarette smoke.
Firsthand smokers are those who directly inhale smoke from cigarettes, secondhand smokers are non-smokers who are exposed to smoke exhaled by first-hand smokers or emitted from burning tobacco products, while thirdhand smoke exposure occurs when non-smokers come into contact with residual chemicals left behind on surfaces or in dust by tobacco smoke.
In a “Kapihan sa Ilocos” episode, Dr. Amia Joy Siganay, Medical Officer III of DOH-CHD 1, said the temporary relief cigarettes provide is a dangerous trade-off for one’s health, regardless of the level of smoke exposure.
“Yong effect ng firsthand smoke ay pwede ring mangyari rin ito sa mga nakakalanghap ng second at thirdhand smoke at same level ng effect sa first hand smoke,” she added.
(The same effects of first-hand smoke are acquired by second and thirdhand smoke.)
Meanwhile, Erwin Baclig, Jr. senior health program officer of DOH-CHD 1, said it is the public’s right to call out smokers who are smoking in public places.
“Karapatan natin ang malinis na hangin pwede natin silang i-approach na hindi tayo comfortable, we can tell them (smokers) na patayin na lang ‘yong sigarilyo na hinihithit nila,” Baclig said.
(Clean air is a right we all share. If cigarette smoke bothers you, you can politely ask smokers to refrain from smoking.)
“Iyon ang unfair kasi hindi sila gumagamit ng sigarilyo ‘no? Pero hindi sila aware na ‘yong chemicals pino-produce ng firsthand smoke, ‘yon din yung pumupunta sa kanila and eventually sila ang nag-de-develop ng mga karamdaman,” Baclig added.
(That’s unfair for secondhand smokers. They’ll eventually reap what firsthand smokers sow since they’re not aware of the toxins that firsthand smoke produces.)
Cigarette smoking contains approximately 7,000 chemicals, of which 60 to 70 are known to cause cancer.
As of 2022 DOH-CHD 1 data, there are 70,483 smokers in the region.
Smokers who want to quit can visit their local health centers. These centers have trained staff who can help develop personalized quit plans to achieve smoking cessation. (MJTAB/REB/PIA Region 1)
